YES. There is a special diet that will aid the recovery from CIRS.
Healing from mold illness will require a multi-faceted approach, and the foods we consume or avoid will play a very important role. Research to date shows these dietary changes to be noticeably effective to reducing the severity and length of CIRS and some other autoimmune disorders.
- significantly reducing amylose intake (Dr. Shoemaker)
- eliminating sweeteners/ natural and processed sugars
- reducing or eliminating dairy
- eliminating processed foods
- eliminating foods & substances your body ‘reacts to’
- reduce mycotoxins from food
What is amylose and why is it important now?
In brief, amylose is a starch that has health benefits and dangers. A leader in mold illness recovery- Dr. Shoemaker- has extensively researched the effects of amylose as it relates to CIRS, determining that a low amylose diet is a significantly beneficial part of the CIRS recovery treatment program. Most people trying to heal from mold exposure have elevated MMP9 levels and following a no-amylose diet can help bring this level down. Another common complication with higher amylose intake is Candida overgrowth, causing symptoms like irritability, brain fog, weight gain, and rashes. See this post for a list of low/no amylose foods or here to receive a free PDF chart including over a hundred foods.
To learn more about amylose, see this post and our resources section.
The sad truth our taste buds must endure – most especially during the beginning stages of the healing protocol is eliminating sugar intake. Not only white sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, and sugarcane. But honey, maple syrup, molasses, bananas, applesauce and similar tasty treats as well. Sigh. It’s not forever. But it is crucial to ‘stop feeding’ the harmful organisms immediately. All foods with added sugar, sucrose, corn syrup, or maltodextrin are strictly forbidden. Table sugar and all other simple, fast releasing sugars such as fructose, lactose, maltose, glucose, mannitol and sorbitol must not be consumed.
To learn more about sweet things and their relationship with mold illness, see this post.
Another difficult to end relationship is delicious dairy. A diet without milk, cheese, yogurt, and cream might be tolerable for the short term… but life without butter? Sad, but true. In the beginning of the healing protocol, it is crucial to reduce inflammation as much as possible. It’s clear that a diet high in saturated fats – which are plentiful in cheese and full-fat dairy products – can increase inflammation- written by Dr. Hu for arthritis.org. and many other doctors and medical professionals agree. Again, this might not be forever- beloved organic grassfed French butter might return to the table – but for now, reducing inflammation is so very important.
More about Dairy on this post.
We’re all familiar with sayings like: “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.”, and the truth is if we saw all the ingredients and the process, we probably wouldn’t be eating it as much. This goes for both animal-based sausage and plant based. Packaged foods are mandated to have a nutritional label, but it allows for 20% discrepancy. If you see “spices” listed as an ingredient, remember that can mean almost anything. Deliciously flavored meats like sausages, salami, cured hams, hot dogs, bacon, canned proteins, and similarly made products have been sitting around for much longer than freshly cut proteins and the potential for mycotoxins to grow is significantly higher. For now, eliminate the packaged proteins and make your own fresh versions from scratch as you need them. There is a simple breakfast sausage recipe on this blog that should healthfully hold you over.
Generally, all packaged food items are on hold as you recover from mold illness. There are just too many unknowns and now is not the time to ask your body to process the potential burden of substances that potentially cause inflammation. Don’t stress yourself by reading every single ingredient label- simplify your shopping right now. Skip the bakery section, boxed conveniences, and the canned goods. It’s back to basics for the time being- and you might be surprised how delicious fresh, whole, unaltered foods can be!
Do you ever feel tired shortly after eating? Or a little bloated, maybe a mild headache after certain foods? These are common ‘reactions’ to foods, and not to be taken lightly. Other, more severe reactions related to food allergies might include shortness of breath, hives, and swelling. Or perhaps your skin becomes itchy after using a new laundry soap- another ‘reaction’. Each type of reaction is a sign of inflammation – the body’s natural response to seemingly harmless substances. It is extremely common for CIRS patients to develop temporary ‘leaky gut’ (often SIBO), new food allergies, and surprising food sensitivities. Learn more about these on this post. During the mold illness recovery, avoiding foods and substances that cause any kind of reaction is imperative as there is already increased inflammation in the body as a result of the toxic mold exposure. You may even have ‘reactions’ to foods listed on the CIRS Approved list- do not eat them until you have recovered enough to retry a fresh Elimination Diet. Read more about identifying food reactions here and in our resources section.
Do you know the difference between mold exposure from mycotoxins and mold exposure from mold in your home /office? Even though the relationship between the two is more complex, generally mycotoxins enter our bodies through things we eat & drink. Mold Illness/CIRS enter the body through inhalation much like colds & viruses. Both types of toxin exposure cause harm but require different treatments. The Moldfreemenu site aims to eliminate the mycotoxins from our diets as well as eliminating the amylose starch associated with reducing MMP9, and other common inflammatory foods. Which is why ALL foods must be fresh during recovery. (not necessarily uncooked- but fresh as opposed to canned, dried, or boxed) No dried herbs, dried fruits, no bagged snacks, etc. Using this multi angled approach will reduce the amount of additional inflammation introduced from outside sources and help our already compromised immune systems rout all energy to healing instead of “putting out many fires’.
Read more about mycotoxins in this post and in our resources section.
The basic plan to mold illness recovery is this:
- Determine and remove yourself from the toxic mold exposure
- Support yourself by consuming the right foods & beverages, including CIRS approved foods
- Work with a professional that specializes in mold illness recovery to draft a custom protocol.
- Be patient and diligent
For more information – testing, finding a healthcare professional, and generally learning more about this condition, and how to help yourself or a loved one- see our resources page after reading this post. We’ll link again to the resources at the bottom.
For your free, printable list of over 100 good & forbidden foods, contact us here.
Or view the post 35 safe foods when recovering from mold exposure and five to avoid completely for an introduction.
A few other points worth mentioning as you move forward with this healing method of eating…
It’s gluten free.
One benefit of the low amylose diet is that it is also naturally gluten-free. The avoidance of wheat, oats, rye, and barley is the same for both a gluten free and CIRS healing diet (and surprisingly similar to Atkins, Keto, and Paleo). A note of caution if you are diagnosed with celiac- if a food item is listed on this blog as “CIRS approved” be sure it is also safe for celiac. Allergic reactions to foods can be fatal. For more about testing for food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances click here.
Whenever possible- choose organic.
Everything? If your budget allows. But most of us do not have such a luxurious food budget, so focus on organic for the foods that typically contain more pesticides. It does vary year to year- for 2020, the most commonly pesticided fruits & vegetables you want to buy organic are: Strawberries, spinach, kale, tomatoes, celery, peppers, cherries, pears, and peaches. Our livers are quite busy filtering toxic molds & pathogens right now, don’t make them work even harder to filter out additional chemicals.
Wondering whether RAW OR COOKED fruits and vegetables are best? The answer to this question is highly debated and often depends on the individual, type/length of cook time, the food item’s structure, and more. A good general guideline is to never overcook your produce or proteins. If your digestion shows zero signs of imbalance when you consume raw plants, and you enjoy them prepared that way- satisfy your inner purist by keeping the stove turned off! 😉
Vegetarian? No problem. Check out this post to start
Quick tips:
It’s more important what’s NOT is the food you eat as opposed to simply eating more ‘approved’ foods.
More than trimming a little mold off your bread, consuming only CIRS approved foods can help relieve many symptoms associated with mold illness.
Adhere to the safe CIRS approved food list but try not to eat the exact foods in multiple meals a day. It is important to take in a variety of nutrients.
Only consume food that is in the peak of freshness and does not show any signs at all of mold. Buying local means shorter storage and less likelihood of mold & bacteria.
Read all labels and make sure to avoid all ingredients from the “avoid list” below.
Avoiding genetically modified foods is a good idea.
Some believe nuts & seeds should be avoided while healing from autoimmune conditions. Dr. Shoemaker’s list of CIRS approved foods does allow for clean nuts & seeds at this time. Nuts do contain amylose; if you decide to add them just consume in small amounts and be very cautious of potential mycotoxins.
The consumption of certain oils is strongly debated by professionals when it comes to healing from mold sickness. Educate yourself before using. Cooking with olive oil is more often accepted than other oils.
Some fish can be contaminated with mycotoxins; research farmed fish carefully and avoid when unsure. More reading here:https://thefishsite.com/articles/mycotoxins-in-aquaculture-feeds
Your new meal plan will look something like this: zero sugar, zero (or close to zero) amylose, proper daily protein, and at least 3 servings of vegetables that grow above the ground.
As indicated in the name, CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ) is all about unwanted inflammation. Determining the foods your body currently cannot process well is immediately crucial.
For a free list of over 100 foods that are safe for those following a low amylose diet, contact us here
When one door of happiness closes, another opens. But often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.
– Helen Keller
A low amylose diet is beneficial for CIRS recovery according to Dr. Shoemaker. Elevated MMP9 levels can often be reduced by following a strict low or no amylose diet. Ask your health professional to monitor your bloodwork details.
The information we provide at Moldfreemenu.com is intended to provide information to better understand how a healthy diet is part of healing from biotoxin illness and not intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional.Specific medical advice including diagnosis and treatment will not be provided. This diet does not cure mold illness but does help reduce inflammation- thus reduce symptoms triggered by inflammation.